September roundup – Television

A LOT of new TV releases this month, most gearing up for the new season. Of course, most of those were shortened seasons due to last year’s Writers’ Guild strike, but does that mean the prices will be lower? Dream on…

September 2

The Big Bang Theory: The Complete First Season

Warner Bros., 355 minutes, $29.98

Two geek physicists Leonard (Johnny Galecki) and Sheldon (Jim Parsons), have no social interaction skills with the opposite sex. When free-spirited beauty Penny (Kaley Cuoco) moves in next-door, Leonard sees romantic possibilities whereas Sheldon would rather play board games with their circle of nerdy friends. 17 episodes, plus featurette “Why It’s Cool to Be a Geek.”

Doctor Who: The Invisible Enemy / K9 and Company: A Girl’s Best Friend

BBC Video, 143 minutes, $34.98

More entries in the “Doctor Who” series, with spinoff series “K9 and Company.” Extras: making-of featurettes, deleted scenes, commentary.

Eli Stone: The Complete First Season

Disney, 559 minutes, $39.99

Jonny Lee Miller plays Eli Stone, a corporate litigator who gets an epiphany and becomes either a modern day prophet or a man suffering a brain aneurysm that causes wild hallucinations. 13 episodes, plus extended episodes, deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes featurettes.

It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia: Season Three

Fox, 450 minutes, $39.98

Politically incorrect FX series with Danny DeVito as the patriarch of a family of never-do-wells that own a dive bar in Philadelphia. 15 episodes, with making-of featurettes, behind-the-scenes, deleted scenes, commentaries.

Life: Season One

Universal, 476 minutes, $29.98

After spending 12 years in a federal prison for a murder he did not commit, former police officer-turned detective Charlie Crews (Damian Lewis) returns to the force, with a $50 million settlement. He is a changed man, with unconventional methods for solving crimes, a new spiritual outlook, a new partner (Sarah Shahi), and an underlying need for revenge. 11 episodes, deleted scenes, commentary on five episodes, blooper reel, still galleries, featurettes.

British comedy series details snobbish Hyacinth Bucket’s (Patricia Routledge) attempts to climb the social ladder, oblivious to the fact no one inside her circle cares to follow her lead. Five seasons, plus the 2007 PBS special. Extras: cast profiles, interviews, outtakes, commercials.

Last of the Summer Wine: Vintage 1977

BBC Video, 245 minutes, $34.98

Season four of the world’s longest-running sitcom, which follows the misadventures of three loveable senior delinquents tramping around the Yorkshire countryside. Seven episodes, plus an interview with series creator Roy Clarke.

Peter Cook and Dudley Moore: The Best of – What’s Left of – Not Only – But Also

BBC Video, 173 minutes, $24.98

1960’s British comedy series laid the foundation for Monty Python, Benny Hill and others, with Cook and Moore giving impromptu speeches, half-written scripts and witty ad-libs. A lot of it was erased in the 1970s, but the BBC restored what was left. Extras: featurette on Cook and Moore, collector’s booklet.

To the Manor Born: The Complete Series

BBC Video, 650 minutes, $79.98

All three seasons of the quirky British sitcom, where aristocratic snob Audrey (Penelope Keith) discovers that she must sell her ancestral estate to DeVere (Peter Bowles), a millionaire bachelor. 20 episodes, plus the 25th anniversary “Silver Anniversary Special,” which features the couple at their Silver wedding anniversary. Other extras: the “Christmas Special,” making-of featurette, “Comedy Connections” episode. The “Silver Anniversary Edition” is also available separately for $14.98.

Ugly Betty: The Complete Second Season

Disney, 765 minutes, $59.99

Television version of “The Devil Wears Prada” comes back for its second season, with sunny, sweet-tempered and terminally style challenged Betty (America Ferrera) dealing with high-fashion divas. 18 episodes, with tour of the sets, profile of Wilhelmina Slater (Vanessa Williams), bloopers, deleted scenes.

Family attorney Nick George (Peter Krause) has a very difficult task; keeping the secrets of the extremely wealthy and scandalous Darling family. 10 episodes, four featurettes, commentary, bloopers, deleted scenes.

Quirky series about Ned (Lee Pace), whose touch can bring back the dead, temporarily. So he teams up with a private investigator, bringing back murder victims to find out who dunnit, then collecting the reward. 9 episodes. Extras: “Interactive Pie Time” featurette gallery.

Torchwood: The Complete Second Season

BBC Video, 628 minutes, $79.98

Torchwood: The Complete First Season

BBC Video, 637 minutes, $99.98 (Blu-ray)

Second season of popular British alien chasing team has three hours of bonus material to go along with its 13 episodes. Extras: “The Lives and Deaths of Captain Jack,” featurette; Torchwood Declassified Cut-downs – 13 episodic behind-the-scenes featurettes; deleted scenes; outtakes. And the first season gets a Blu-ray release.

September 23

Boston Legal: Season Four

Fox, 925 minutes, $59.98

20 episodes of the high-powered law firm of Crane Poole & Schmidt, with James Spader, William Shatner, Candice Bergen and John Larroquette taking on the issues amidst the wreckage of their personal lives. Extras: “The New Kids on the Courtroom Floor” behind-the-scenes featurette.

Samantha Newly (Christina Applegate) wakes up from an eight-day coma and can’t remember anything about her life, so she decides to dig up the goods on herself. Her former life wasn’t that nice, so she tries to make up for it. 15 episodes, with deleted scenes and bloopers.

September 30

Lewis Black’s Root of all Evil

Comedy Central/Paramount, 176 minutes, $26.99

Abrasive comedians Lewis Black, Patton Oswalt, Greg Giraldo and Andrew Daly take on pop culture, politics and all the things that most stupefy and pervert our society. No extras listed.

My Name Is Earl: Season Three

Fox, 580 minutes, $49.98

22 episodes of the white-trash loser Earl Hickey (Jason Lee), having won a lottery jackpot, hoping to make himself a better person. Extras: gag reel, “Creating the Characters” featurette, deleted scenes.